Objective Setting
Making the process fun & motivating...
Objective setting can be often received by Team members with a deep sigh instead of excitement about the future and the direction for them and the company.
Mindset
As a Manager you must be really enthusiastic about the year ahead and talk about obstacles and barriers, never position the year ahead as going to be difficult!! Setting the scene for Objective Setting is crucial, bringing optimism and a clear view of goals and ambitions.
Overall Purpose
To begin the process, be very clear of the overall purpose of the company and the overall high level objective/goal. For example to "Increase sales" or "broaden an offering into different geographical regions" at this stage it does not say how. This is the direction of the company for the year.
SMART objectives
Love them or hate them the SMART mnemonic does work and is a good tracker for the direction of the company/team and individuals.
- S = Specific - what are you focusing on? It is important to focus on the outcome not the activity. For example to increase sales is an outcome whereas to work harder on marketing is the activity to increase sales. Managers if they are not careful end up with a list of tasks rather than objectives.
- M = Measurable - Tom Peters famous quote "What gets measured gets done?" If you know you are being measured and you can see progress you are far more likely to engage.
- A = Achievable - knowing that the objective is possible is to break it down and know what you will be realistically able to achieve by when. It might well be weekly/monthly or even quarterly that you can see steps getting nearer to the objective completion.
- R = Relevant - This is the safety check, does this link back to overall purpose, is their a direct correlation with the Big Picture.
- T = Timebound - Finally when is that moment where you celebrate achieving the SMART objective
Always use action language, so think are you improving, increasing or building think of verbs things you will be doing.
Making the process "Fun"
Instead of diving straight in and thinking of a SMART objective, have a blank piece of paper with two columns. At the top of the page put the objective really loosely eg. Improve my physical fitness and lose weight. Then create two columns that are headed what will be happening and what won't be happening.
What will be happening?
regular exercise
walking to work on office days
eating healthily
healthy snacking
good sleep
feeling confident in my body
Buying scales
Buying a fitness tracker
Weighing myself everyday
What won't be happening?
no exercise
no walking to work
no healthy eating (takeaways & unhealthy snacks)
no decent sleep
no confidence
no scales
no fitness tracker
Make the lists as long as possible and really engage with what will be happening. Imagine you are already doing the activities. When you have a really comprehensive list grab a marker pen and highlight how many things can be measured. Then with another colour pen decide how often you can checkin on the items being measured eg. daily, weekly or monthly?
The final objective:- "Improve my physical fitness by losing weight by exercising 4 x week, and to have lost 5ky by the 31st August 2025, feeling confident and healthy.
If you enjoy the process your team will as well!!
